You find a piece of paper....

[jfrog]

Timmy, is there anything that could convince you that the God of Christianity is real? If so what would it be?

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by jfrog

Timmy, is there anything that could convince you that the God of Christianity is real? If so what would it be?

Good question. I don't know, but I suspect not. Not in the sense that some combination of words when placed before me would make me say "Ah yes! That's true! I've never thought of it that way!" But I'm giving MB a chance to try, and anyone else who wants to.

But if that doesn't work, they could try another approach: tell me of what benefit it would be to believe the way they do. What good things will happen? Not necessarily to me, or only to me, but perhaps to my loved ones. Or who knows, maybe some other kind of benefit. I'll let them figure that out. And if they can convince me that they are correct, that all those good things will happen, and there aren't some horrible things to counter them in balance, I'll convert.

Now, "convert" might be tough to pin down: I'm not sure I can literally believe what I'm expected to believe -- in the sense that I really consider it all true* -- but I will at least come back to church, put in a good effort to follow the rules (please, nobody jump in here and say something ridiculous like "there are no rules", because everyone knows there are), and call myself a Christian again.

I'm serious.

* - "true" in the common meaning of the English word. Man, I have to be careful around here!

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Good question. I don't know, but I suspect not. Not in the sense that some combination of words when placed before me would make me say "Ah yes! That's true! I've never thought of it that way!" But I'm giving MB a chance to try, and anyone else who wants to.

But if that doesn't work, they could try another approach: tell me of what benefit it would be to believe the way they do. What good things will happen? Not necessarily to me, or only to me, but perhaps to my loved ones. Or who knows, maybe some other kind of benefit. I'll let them figure that out. And if they can convince me that they are correct, that all those good things will happen, and there aren't some horrible things to counter them in balance, I'll convert.

Now, "convert" might be tough to pin down: I'm not sure I can literally believe what I'm expected to believe -- in the sense that I really consider it all true* -- but I will at least come back to church, put in a good effort to follow the rules (please, nobody jump in here and say something ridiculous like "there are no rules", because everyone knows there are), and call myself a Christian again.

I'm serious.

* - "true" in the common meaning of the English word. Man, I have to be careful around here!

That's fair. What about a miracle? Would that convince you?

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by jfrog

That's fair. What about a miracle? Would that convince you?

Another good question!

I'd have to say I'd be open to the possibility, but again, it's unlikely. There are many problems with the idea that miracles should convince anyone of whatever theology the miracle maker espouses to. Probably the most obvious is that the miracle could have been caused by any number of things, and not just the particular God being touted. See Aaron and the magicians in their contest of dueling miracles.

But it depends on the miracle, maybe. If God were to miraculously rewire my brain so it would suddenly believe what He wanted me to, then yeah. I'd be "convinced".